Feeder for printing-presses.



No. 643,384. Patented Feb. I3, |9010.

C. D. MATTISDN.

FEEDER FDR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application filed Jan. 15, 1898.) (No Model.) I6 Shees--Sheei I.

No. 643,384. Patented Feb. I3, |900.

C. D. MATTISUN. FEEDER FOR PRINTING PRESSES. (Application filed Jan. 15, 1898.) (No ModeI.) I6 Sheets-fSheet 2.

N0. 643,384. Patented Feb. I3, |900.

` C. D. MATTISON. I

FEEDER FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application led Jan. 15, 1898.)l (No IIIdel.)4 I6 Sheets--SheeI 3 MTI-@T WITNESSES: INVENTOR @5MM @www ATTORNEY No. 643,384. Patented Feb. I3, |900.. l

C. D. MATTISON.

FEEDER FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application led Jan. 15, 1898.)

I6 Sheets-Shaet 4.

WITNESSES:

Patented Feb. I3, |900.

c. n. MATTlsoN. FEEDER FUR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Applicaion tiled Jan. 15, 1898.) (No Model.) I6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

ATTORNEYS No. 643,384. Patented Feb. I3, |900. C. D. MATTISDN. FEEDER FUR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application Bled Jau. 15, 189B.)

I6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(fioA Model.)

ATTORNEY N0. 643,384. Patented Feb. I3, i900.

C. D. MATTISUN. FEEDER F08 PRINTING PRESSESl (Application med Jan. 15, 189s.)

la sheets-sheet 7.

(No Model.)

www.

ATTORNEY,

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...........w....ww.h.......

No. 643,384. Patented Feb. I3, i900.

C. D. MATTISON. FEEDER FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application filed. Jan. 15, 1898.)

(No Model.) I6 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. I3, |90l0.

{ C. D. MATTISON.' FEEDER FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application filed Jan. 15, 1898.) (NoMudel.) I6 Shaetssbet 9.

ATTORNEY J Ptented Feb. Ala, |900.

c. n. MATTlsoN. FEEDERFOR PRINTING PnEssEs.

(Application iled .78.11.115; 189B.)

I6 sham-sheet lo.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: l @a/7% 4. 7%

A'ITTORNEY s No. 643,384. Patented Feb. I3, |900. C. D. MATTISUN.

FEEDER FDR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application Bled Jun. 15, 1898.) (No Model.) I6 Sheets-Sheet Ily o f. 0 M K A l A huw l l '1 wlTNEssEs: mvemon www.

ATIORNEYS Patented Feb. I3, |900.

c C. D. MATTISONC FEEDER FOB PHlNTlNG PRESSES.

(Application filed. Jan. 15, 1898.) (No Model.) I6 Sheets-Sheet I2,

INVIENTOR ATTDRNEY No. 643,384. Patenfed Feb. I3, |900. C. D. MATTISN.

FEEDER F08 PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application filed Jan. 15, 1898.)

I6 Sheets-Sheet I3.

(Nu Model.)

INVENTOR n willi .l

ATTORNEYS: v

Patonted Feb. I3, |900.

c, u. MATTloN. ff FEEDER FUR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application led Jan. 15, 189B.) (N0 ModL) I6 Sheets-Sheet |4.

.www

ATTORNEYS v No. 643,384. Patented Feb. i3, |9100.

- C. D. MATTISUN.

FEEDER FR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application filed Jan. 15, 1898.) lo Model.) I6 Sheets-Sheet l5.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. I3, |900.

C. D. MATTISN.

FEEDER FDR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application filed Jan. 15, 189B.) (No Model.) I6 Sheets-l-Sheet 16.

i\ii i iiii mmm?,

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY UNITED :STATES PATENT' Onrficn..

CHARLES D. MATTIsoN, oF HA'sBRoUcK Haier-Irs,l NEW Jirnsrmnssicvon T O ROBERT M. DONALDSON, F GREENWCH, GONNEC'ITCU'l FEEDER FOR 4PRINTING- PRESSESQ sPnoIFIcAtrIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 643384, dated February 1s, 1900.

i Application filed-January 15, 1898. Serial No. 666,796. (No model-) f To ,aiZZ whom it mag/concern,.-

'Be it jknoywn that I, CHARLES D. MATTIsoN, a'cit'iien of the United States, residing at Hasbrouck Heights, in the county of Bergen and State of ANew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeders for f Printing-Presses, dsc., of which the following specification, taken in connection withV the accompan'ying'drawings, is a full, clear, and ro exact description.

In a patent granted to me March l5, 1898, No. 600,736, I have coveredv a machine for successively 'separatingsheets of paper from a pile for feeding/them to'a-printing-pressor other machine, the separation ofT the sheets being accomplished by a traveling *"iotating separator-roll which grasps Athe sheet at one edge of the` pile and rolls over the pile with the sheet and delivers it at the opposite edge zo. of the pile. Tliis pneumatic sheet-separating roll delivers the successive sheets to a -traveling sheet-support, from which the sheets are conveyed to the printing-press or other machine by any suitable mechanism.

. 2 5 My present improvements relate chiefly to vthe structure of the feeding devices which Convey the successive separated sheets from a sheet separating and feeding device to the printing-press or other machine.A

3o i My invention relates, first, to a novel form of automatically-operating sheetgripper. This sheet-gripper comprises a traveling ilexible band or carrier mounted upon suit-able 'supports, such as pulleys or Wheels, which '35- are adapted to continuously change the direction of travel ofthe ban/d or carrier at one or more points, and one or'more rigid sheetgripping plates or fingers secured at their ends to the traveling band or carrier and eX- 4o tending in the direction of travel of the band or carrier, so that when thelrigid sheet-gripping plates or fingers arrive at the supports ,of the band or carrier the free or unattached A ends of said plates or lingers will be deflected 45 outwardly from the supporting band or carrier to form a sheet-receiving space between the platesor fingers and the carrier. ,Coperating with this traveling band or carrier and the attached sheet-gripping plates orrfin- 5o gers is a suitable sheet-support, .which receives the successive sheets from the separating-and feeding device and delivers their forward edges into the grip of the gripping plates or fingers. A s soon as a sheet is properly received between the gripping plates or lingers and the flexible conveying band or carrier said band or carrieris directed for- Ward in a straight line; causing the unattached or free ends of the gi'i'ppi-ngiplates `or fingers to be firmly pressed against it for-se- 6o -vided with the same number of rigid gripping plates or .lingers correspondingly arranged upon them in order that the/forward edge of the sheet will be simultaneously gripped by two of the gripping plates or lingers.

As an improvement on the sheet separat-` ing and feeding device covered by my abovenamed patent I propose tofprovide a travcling sheet-support in the form of an apron 8o or blanket or a series of parallel cords, tapes, or Wires Wound upon a roll or a platform or i frame, which traveling support is so conneeted with the carriage of the traveling pneumatic separator-roll (or the movable part 8 `5 of any other form of sheet-separating device) that it will support the sheet in approximately `horizontal position as itis fed from the separatorV until the forward edge of `the sheet reaches the gripping-lingers upon the travel- 9o ing sup'porting-belts,wl1en said travelingsuplport will' be given a slight drop or downward movement to facilitate the withdrawal of the sheet from the traveling sheet-support.. The traveling sheet-support is preferably in the form of a traveling apron 'or blanket having one end attached to a Winding-.drum and passing around a roller journaledlin the traveling carriage and its'other end attached to a sta tionary bar, a cord being wound upon a pulley zoo on one end of the windingdrum and passed 4under suitable stationary guide-pulleys and.

around a guide-pulleyon the travelingcarriage to` cause the apron or blanket to move at the same speed as the separator-roll.' I also providea novel form of sheet-registering delivery-table which receives and registers thesuecessive sheets as they are deli-v-v ered from the traveling gripp'ers, and afterwarddeliverssaid registered sheets to .the

cylinder of. the p'rintingpres's or to any other machineftowhich-.the sheets are to -be fed, rihis sheeti registering receiving-table com;

:prises 'a laterally-movable plate or platform upon which the sheets are successively deliv' ered, a suitable stationary registering-guide extending up atright angles tothe surface or"v Y the plate-or platform, and means for impart` one side. and the automatic valve is instantly 'opened' to exhaust'the. air beneath the sheet` and-eausethe 'sheet' to adhere to the platform and immediately after said valve is closed to break the suction beneath the sheet. The plate or. platform' moves transversely until the sheetis registered against the guide,when suitable mechanism comes into play to.` cause" the sheet to be delivered to the printing-press or other machine. v

v In order that the sheet Amay be registered at either side, 1 provide side registering-guides at both sides of the registering plate or platform and provide means for shifting-the registering-plateorplatform toward either side.

. out with more My invention consists, further, of novel features of: construction which, in addition to the above-mentioned main features, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and will afterward be pointed .particularity in the `annexed claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevationl of a paper-feeding machine constructed according to my invention and representing a printing-press operatively connected therewith, the feeding-machine being driven from the power-shaft of the printing-press. Fig. 2 is a plan View 'of the same. Fig. l3 is a rear end elevation of thesame. Figs. 4,- 5, and 6 are detailvicws representing the pileretaiu` ing Yfingers and showing the operation of the separator-'roll in starting a sheet from the pile. Figsl17` and Sare respectively a det-ail rear elevation and a detail sectionalside elevation ofcth'ezpileretaining fingers and their supporting-brackets. Fig. 9 isa side'elevation Qthe''OrW'ard part of the paper-feeding ymachineto-:which the greater'upart of vmy in.

4ing them on their operating-shaft.

same ona large'r scale. Fig. 12 isa detail plan viewof the parts shown in Fig. 11. `Figs.'13,14.,

. 15, and 16 are detail views of vone of my improved sheet-gripping devices.

Figs. 17 and 18 arerespectively'detail side elevation and detail plan of the power-transmitting mechanism for operating` my improved feeding mechanism. Figs. 19 and 2O arc respectively detail side elevation and vertical sectional' viewsof part of' the operating mechanism for shifting' Y the sheet-registeringtable. Figs. 2l and 22 are respectively detail side elevation and detail .plan of one of the sprocket-wheels or pulleys lfor su pporting the endless flexible gripper band or su pport,`these views also illustrating .one-oli thev gages or sheet-stops of the printing-press. Fig. 23 is a detail side elevation of part of. the driving .mechanism shown 1n Fig. 17 for operating the traveling grippers.

Fig. 24E is a detail plan View of same, also showing the upper pair of'supporting .sprocket wheels and the means for adjustably mounta detail side elevation similar to Fig. 21 ot one of the lower sprocket-'Wheels of the grippermechanism. Fig. 26 is a detail plan view of the same, showing-the'lower pair of sprocket- Wheelsjadjustably mounted upon their sup-v porting-shaft. tively a detail vertical sectional View andv detail side elevationof one of the upper pair of sp1ocket-wheels.A Figs. 29 and 8O are respectivel ya detail vertical sectional view and detail side elevation of one of the lower pair of sprocket-wheels. ,Fig. 3l is a detail sectional view ofpart of a sprocket-wheel, showing the adjustably-supported tooth or sprocket. Fig. 32 is a detail plan viewl of a modified form of traveling sheetsupport which conveysthe sheets from' the separator-roll'and guides them into the grip of the conveyergrippers.

trated invFig. 32, these views show-ing the different positions of this modified form of traveling sheet-support during the operation of receiving a sheet from the separator-roll and delivering it to the'traveling grippers. Figs. 36 and 37 are detail plan views of my improved sheet-feeding registering mechan- Fig. 25'is e Figs. 27 and 2S are respec'- e V IOC IIO Figs. 33, 34, and 35 are detail side elevational views ofthe mechanism illus' ism, illustrating the operation of registering a sheet and showing the preferred `form 'of traveling sheet-support for conveyingthe sheets from the separator-roll to the travellng grippens. This form of traveling sheetsupp'ort is also illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. Figs., 38 and 39 are detail longitudinal sec-I tional elevations of the mechanisms's own in Figs. 36 and 37, respectively. Fig. 4 is a I detail plan view illustrating the suction mechanism. of the sheetregisteringA table for quickly exhausting the airjr'm beneath a sheet to cause the sheetto'move with. the table. Fig.` 41 is a detail longitudinal sectional sectional end elevation of the `same.

view of the same. Fig. 2 is a detail transverse sectional view of the suction mechan ism of the registering-table. Fig. 43 is a side elevation of the automatic suc'tion-controllin g valve which controls the operation of the suction device of the sheet-registering table. Fig. 44 is a detail longitudinal sectional View of the same. Fig.- 45 is a transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 16 is a detail F ig. 47 is a detail sectional end View, on a large scale, illustrating the valve-operating device. Figs. 48 and 49 are transverse sectional views of the valve and 'valve-casing, showing the valve closed and open. Figs. 50 and 5l are detail vertical sectional views of the suction-chamber of the regsteringtable, illustrating the which mesh operation vupon a sheet. Fig. 52 is' 'a detail sectional .side elevation of part of my machine, showing the ating the traveling apron or sheet-support. Fig. 53 is a plan view of the saine mechanism. Figs. 54, 55, and 56 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation oft-he same 4lnechf anism.' The saine letters and numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

. I prefer to employ my improvements in connection with a sheetseparating and-"feeding machine such .as described and claimed in'niy above-named Patent No. 600,736, andin'order that the machine may be fully understood I have illustrated and will now`describe some of the features which are already covered by said patent.

1 is a vertically-adjustable pile-supporting table or platform mounted in the usual way .between the uprightv standards 2 2. The platform or table 1 has secured to it threaded lugs or nuts,'in which operate the vertical table-elevating screws 3 3, which are journaled inthe standards 2 in any suitable manner and have keyed to their upper ends the beV-- eled gears 4. (Represented by dotted lines.) Extending across the top of the standards 2 is a rotary shaft 5, carrying beveled gears 6, with the gears 4 on ythe screws 3. These parts are also shown by dotted lines.

110 isl a paper-supporting ltruck having Wheels 11, and 12 represents' the pile of sheets upon the'trnck 10.

13 represents tracks upon the table or platform 1, upon which the truck 10 is run into position beneath the feeding mechanism, which will now be described. f

15 and 16 are horizontally-extending side frames suitably secured to the standards 2 and rigidly braced by means ofthe transverse,

rods and shafts of the feeder;

A carriage 13 '19* is supported between the sideframes l5 and 16,' and journaled upon the carriage is the. pneumatic separating feedroll 30, which communicates through a suit-` able valved passage (not shown) with an air-v suctionpipe 23. The structureof the sepa.

rater-roll 30 and its controllingvalve willnot preferred means for operbe herein described, as it is fully set forth in my above-named patent. In addition to being journaled in the traveling carriage the feed-roll 30 is provided with cog-ears 70 and 71, the gear being integral with one head of the roll, while the gear 7l is keyed to the journal 31. These gears -7'0 and'71 are in constant mesh with the rack-bars 72 and 73, which are secured to the inner faces of the side frames 15 and 16, and it will be observed that by reason of the engagement of said gears with the rack-bars the feed-roll is caused to rotate as it reci procates or travels over the pile of sheets.

To cause the feed-roll to travel over the surface of the pile of sheets, Iprovidea gear 75 upon the ,journal 3l of smaller diameter than the gear 71, and meshing with this gear 75 I provide `a reciprocating rack-bar 76, which is secured to a dovetailed slide 77, which reciprocates in the dovetailed guide'- groove. 78 formed in the inner face 'of side frame 15. To eifectjthe reciprocation of the sliding rack 76, I provide a rotary crank 80 upon the end of a short shaft 234 and connect the-crank 8O with sliding rack 76 by means ofa pitman S2. The'short shaft 234 is operated as hereinafter explained.

is the squared 'end of shaft 234, adapted to receive arcrank to enable the operation or change in position of the machinetable and other working parts without power.

are arms extending up from the carriage side frames 18 and 19. 96 are slots lin said arms in which is a shaft 99, uponwhich are freely journaled the cooperating auxiliary feed rolls or rollers 100, which operate in peripheral contact` with the feed-roll and assist` in the feeding operation.

101 are stationary arms having inclined forward ends which are adapted to engage beneath shaft 99 as the carriage nears the rear part of its stroke and raise the auxiliary.

les

feed-rolls 100 out of contactwith the feed'- roll 30.

Extending between the side frames 18 and- 19 of the carriage is a rod or bar 105, upon whichis supporteda stripping-plate 106, the edge of which rests very closely to the periphery of, the separating feed-roll and is adapted to directthe edge of the sheet away from the feedroll tothe travelingsheetsup.

port, which I will now describe.

125 is a rock-shaft journaled at 126 in the side frames l5 and 1G, and 127 are feeler-arms keyed to the shaft 125 and adapted to be in termittently lifted out of engagement with the pile of sheets when the separator feed-rollcomes into initial position for separating a sheet. The feeler-arms 127 are brought into engagement with the top of the pile automatically immediately aftereach sheet is removed by the feeder-roll. i

128 is a ratchet-wheel-*lieyed yto the outer end of shaft 5,. and 12S-is an oscillating arm ,jour-naled `upon fshaft v5 and. supporting the.

gravitating paw1130 in `constant engagement Y upon the head or plate 135 'and adapted to be' engaged by the cam132 for'causing the longitudinal movement of rod or bar 133 for effecting the movement of the pawl 130 on-e stroke.

At one end of the rock-shaft 125 is keyed a guide-arm 140, to which is journaled a guideblock 141.

142 is a rod pivoted to the head 135 and ex-l tending forwardly and passing through the guide-block 141. 1

144 is a tappet-collar secured to the rod 142 and adapted to engage the block 141 for rocking the shaft125and elevating the paper-feeling lingers from the surface of the pile. The rod 142 also supports an adjustable arm 145, upon which is forA ned a triangular dog or detent146, and keyed to the rock-shaft 125 is a rock-arm 147, formed with a similar dog'or detent 14S and adapted to engage the detent 146 for regulatingthe action of the pawl-operating cam.

160 is a rocl'fi-arinv vkeyed to-rockshaft 125, and 161 is a spring connecting said rock-arm to the machine-frame and acting against the operation of rod 142, holding the guide-block 141 against the tappet 144 and throwing the feeler-fingers 127 into Contact with the surface ofthe pile at the propertiine. The abovedescribed feature forms no part of my present invention, and for a fuller descriptionand illustration of such parts reference is made to my said Patent No. 600,736.

The main feature of novelty relating directly to the paper-separating mechanism disclosed in my above-named patent is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and S of the drawings. This feature of novelty comprises one or more liexible or elastic pile-retaining lingers which are constantly in engagement with the rear edge of the pile for holding the pile intact and preventing the separation of more than one sheet. 200 indicates these fingers, which are preferably formed of soft rubber. The rubber .fingers 200 are attached toa block 201, which is pivoted at 202 to the upper end' of a bracket 203,' which straklldles the frame-bar- 204 and is rigidly secured thereto by set-screws 205. The block' 201 is pivotally mounted in thebifurcated upper end of the bracket 203 and is adj ustably secured'in position by means of the set-screw 206, which engages onel of the side faces of block 201.

The operation of the pile-retaining fingers 200 will be clear from the diagrammatic views Figs. 4, 5, and 6. In Fig. 4 the separatorroll 30 is. illustrated coming to a point'of rest over the rear edge of the pile of sheet-spreparatory toseparating a sheet. In Fig. 5 the roll is in position, it having pressed down the `pin `120 on the side frame 16.

rubber retaining-lingers 200. In Fig. 6 the roll is illustrated with the top sheet engaged by the suction-grip in readiness to be stripped from the pile. The next under sheet is partly separated, but is retained by the dexible fingers.

3teferring to Figs. 2, 3, 52, 53, 54, 55, and

. 56,1 will describe -tlie preferred form of travelin g sheet-support which receives the sheets from the separator-roll 30 and delivers them to the traveling sheet-grippers. 110 represents the traveling blanket vor apron, which is attached at one end to the winding-roll 112 and passes rearwardly to a freely-journaled guide-roll 112, and then forwardly under the upper working portion of the apron to a bar 112", supported between side'frames 1 5l and 16 of the feeder. The end of the apron or blanket 110'is attached to the bar 112". The roll 112a is close to the stripping-plate 106, so that the sheet will pass vfrom the strippingplate on to the upper working portion of the apron or blanket 110. At one end of the winding-roll 112 I. provide a cone winding-pulley 116, around which is wound a cord or cable 117, which is attached at one end to said pulley, is wound thereon, and extends rear- Wardlytherefrom 'under the guide rolls or pulleys 118 'and 11S, journaled to' the'side frame 16. Said cord or cable 117 then passes around a flanged roll orpulley 119, journaled to the side frame 18 of the traveling carriage' and has its rear end attached to a stationary It will be'observed, particularly with reference to Figs. 52, 54, 55, and56, that as the separator-roll 30 starts to roll forward with a sheet adhering toit the roll 119, traveling with the feedercarriage, will cause the cord or cable 117 o unwind from the pulley 116 and the apron or blanket 110 to Wind upon the roll 112. This will therefore cause the supporting or working surface of the traveling blanket or apron 110 to travel at the same rate of speed and in 'the same direction as the sheet which 4is fed from the separator-roll 30, so that the sheet will be supported and carried along as fast as it leaves 'the separator. The winding-pulley 116 is made cone-shaped to compensate for the increase in diameter of the roll of the apron or blanket upon the winding-roll 112, so that the'speed of the sheet-supporting snrface of the apron or blanket will be constant.

-In the several figures of the draw-ings Ihave represented two different devices for supporting the winding-roll 112. In Figs. 2, 3, 52, and 53 the winding-roll 112 is journaled in arms ct, adjustably mounted in bracket-s b, extending up from rock-arms c, journaled upon bolts d, attached to the side' frames 15 and 16. e is a rock-shaft journaled in the side frames 15 and 16, and f represents rockar'ms keyed to the rpck-shaft e and connected at their forward ends by links g with the IOO IIO

rock-arms c, which support the winding-roll'l l 112. h is an operating rock-arm keyed A-te 

